Establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration

(a) Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration (1) In general Part V of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: 80 Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration Sec. 8001. Organization of Administration. 8002. Functions of Administration. 8003. Annual report to Congress. 8001. Organization of Administration (a) Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration (1) There is in the Department a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. (2) The primary function of the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration is the administration of the programs of the Department that provide assistance related to economic opportunity to veterans and their dependents and survivors. (b) Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity and Transition The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration is under the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, who is directly responsible to the Secretary for the operations of the Administration. 8002. Functions of Administration The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration is responsible for the administration of the following: (1) Vocational rehabilitation and employment programs. (2) Educational assistance programs. (3) Veterans’ housing loan and related programs. (4) The responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to the Transition Assistance Program under section 1144 of title 10. (5) Any other program of the Department that the Secretary determines appropriate. 8003. Annual report to Congress (a) In general The Secretary shall include in the annual report to the Congress required by section 529 of this title a report on the programs administered by the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition. (b) Contents Each report under subsection (a) shall include the following with respect to each program described in such subsection during the fiscal year covered by that report: (1) The number of claims received. (2) The number of claims decided. (3) The average processing time for a claim. (4) The number of successful outcomes (as determined by the Secretary). (5) The number of full-time equivalent employees. (6) The amounts expended for information technology.. (2) Clerical amendments The tables of chapters at the beginning of title 38, United States Code, and of part V of title 38, United States Code, are each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item: 80. Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration 8001. (b) Effective date Chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1 of the first fiscal year commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Labor rights Any labor rights, inclusion in the bargaining unit, and collective bargaining agreement that affects an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is transferred to the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, as established under chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply in the same manner to such employee after such transfer. (d) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the creation of the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration and the transfer of functions to such Administration from the Veterans Benefits Administration should not, directly or indirectly— (1) cause the budget or spending of the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase or decrease relative to the budget or level of spending of the Department in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; or (2) serve as a basis or justification for any increase or decrease in the number of full-time equivalent employees of the Department.